CALL FOR ART: Philadelphia America 250 City Art Poster Contest Total Prizes: $10,000 

Deadline: December 20, 2025

Presented by Creative Philadelphia in partnership with the Office of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker   Next year marks America’s Semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In recognition of this historic milestone, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, has launched the America 250 City Art Poster Project.   As the birthplace of the nation, Philadelphia is proud to participate—inviting local artists to design a commemorative poster that reflects the spirit, pride, and future of our city. The winning artwork will represent Philadelphia on the national stage throughout 2026.      

PRIZES   A total of $10,000 will be awarded across three tiers:   Grand Prize – $5,000 

• Designated as the official Philadelphia America 250 Poster 
• Displayed at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting (Washington, D.C., January 2026) 
• Displayed at the Annual Meeting (Long Beach, CA, June 2026) 
• Published in national America 250 print and digital books 
• Eligible for display in civic buildings, libraries, parks, cultural venues, and more 

Second Prize – $3,000 

• Recognized as a City Finalist 
• Eligible for local Philadelphia displays 
•  Included in select promotional materials 

Third Prize – $2,000 

• Recognized as a City Finalist 
• Eligible for local Philadelphia displays 
• Included in select promotional materials 

ELIGIBILITY 

This contest is open to: 

• Philadelphia residents who identify as amateur or professional artists 
• Creatives of any discipline, working in any visual medium 

Applicants must reside within the City of Philadelphia at the time of submission.   There is no entry fee. 

THEME 

Artists are invited to create a poster that: 

• Commemorates America 250 in a positive and inspiring way 
• Highlights Philadelphia’s history, culture, and identity 
• Reflects civic pride and national optimism 
• Imagines a hopeful future for the next 250 years 

Posters must not include political messages or inflammatory language.   Each poster must incorporate: 

• “Philadelphia” 
• “America 250” 

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be original artwork not previously publicly exhibited, suitable for public display, reproduction, and large-scale exhibition 
• Medium: Any visual art medium (digital, illustration, painting, mixed media, collage, etc.) 
• Artwork size: live area 24 inch width x 32 inch height; with bleed 24.5 x 32.5; include bleed on all 4 sides
• Preferred file format: PDF Only; 300 DPI at 100% scale; Color Mode: CMYK (4 - color process - convert all RGB images and spot colors to CMYK)
• Orientation: Vertical; USCM will place the submitte artwork into an official branded poster template. The template includes a standardized 4-inch black branding bar at the bottom containing the NEA, USCM & America 250 logo. Your artwork will be placed above the black bar.

 SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 

All submissions are due by: December 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM (ET) SELECTION PROCESS 

• Creative Philadelphia will conduct an initial eligibility and quality review. 
• The Office of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker will select the Grand Prize winner. 
• One official poster will be submitted to the U.S. Conference of Mayors for national showcase. 

What is Art in City Hall

Creative Philadelphia's Art In City Hall exhibition program invites Philadelphia’s cultural community to present proposals to exhibit art in display cases in the public corridors of historic City Hall.

Art in City Hall is an exhibits program that transforms the public corridors of City Hall into a platform for the arts. It provides an opportunity for Philadelphia’s diverse cultural organizations  to present their artistic expressions and utilize the visual arts to amplify community voices, foster healing and community dialogue in the most important civic building in the city – The People’s Building. The program is committed to presenting a wide range of ideas and artistic explorations to showcase the important role the arts play in our communities.

Eligibility

Local nonprofits, art programs, and cultural organizations are invited to submit proposals. Collaborations between organizations and other partners, such as with local schools are welcomed, but one organization needs to lead the application process. Artists do not have to live in Philadelphia but including artists from the region is strongly encouraged. Artists can be self-taught or professionally trained.

At this time, we do not present solo exhibitions and encourage the organizations to select enough artists to utilize all the display cases in City Hall.

Exhibition Locations

15 exhibit display cases are located on the First through Fourth Floors of City Hall near the offices of the Mayor, City Council, and City Council Chambers.

Exhibition Dates

There are four exhibit opportunities year round. The calendar is usually booked up to six months or more in advance.

• May – July
• August – October
• November – January
• February - April

Exhibition Installation and Programming

Participating organizations are expected to deliver and install the exhibition and supply all exhibition hardware and printed materials. They are also expected to plan ONE educational program that complements the exhibition. OACCE may assist the partner organizations in the development and coordination of the exhibit programming, but the organization is responsible for all expenses for the events.

City Hall Hours

City Hall is open to the public Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and closed on weekends and holidays. Visitors must sign in at the Northeast corner Visitor’s Entrance, have personal belongings checked, and follow COVID protocols.